it's here that afghanistan's if you had looks a lot like its past. high on the ridge lines they found safe havens for al qaeda. u.s. and afghan officials have reveal they located here al qaeda fighters using the secluded alpine villagers. in june, hundreds of americans were airlifted in 9,000 feet up, but they faced fierce resistance and longer, nastier fight than planned. u.s. officials say they killed 120 insurgents and top leaders, many taliban, but several of them arabs linked to al qaeda, damaging their network. they're said to be mostly across the border, and pakistan is again a concern back where they started. we pushed down into the valley, still an insurgent stronghold, high-tech american attack helicopters buzzed overhead until militants shot at them. >> it's uncharacteristic for the taliban. they're getting gutsy. right past there are usually patrols. if you push it far past that, you're going to take enemy contact it's pretty certain. >> the afghans clear about who lay in wait for them ahead. [ speaking foreign language ] >> reporter: at